The opening reception is tonight. The exhibitions run through May. Here’s why you should be there.
Dallas is about to host the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and the city’s arts community is already answering the moment. Tonight at the Latino Cultural Center, two powerful exhibitions open side by side, brought together by a curatorial vision that treats soccer not as a sport but as a global language, and art not as decoration but as dialogue.
The opening reception runs from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight, April 17, at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas. It’s free and open to the public.
Two Artists, One Conversation
The exhibitions are The Goals of Painting by Jazzamoart and El Mundo es un Juego by Rodrigo de la Sierra. Curated by Elena Catalán Roldán and presented in partnership with Latino Arts Project, the pairing brings together two of contemporary Mexican art’s most distinctive voices — one a painter who has spent more than five decades building a career that bridges music, sport, and visual expression, the other a sculptor whose iconic character Timoteo has become one of the most recognizable figures in Mexican contemporary art.
Jazzamoart’s work centers on soccer as a universal connector — a shared cultural force that crosses borders, unites strangers, and pulses with the rhythm and color of the communities that love it. His bold, expressive canvases are not portraits of the game; they’re translations of its energy, movement, and meaning into paint. With over 50 years of practice behind him, his work is rooted in the same world as jazz and blues — art forms that speak directly to the body before they reach the mind.
Rodrigo de la Sierra’s contribution enters the space in conversation. His recurring figure Timoteo — a playful, wide-eyed observer of modern life rendered in sculpture — brings a different register to the pairing: wit, wonder, and a gentle provocation to look at the world around us more honestly. Where Jazzamoart surges with motion, de la Sierra invites stillness and reflection. Together they create a gallery experience that moves between exuberance and contemplation.
Why This Exhibition, Why Now
Dallas is one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the intersection of global sport and contemporary art rarely gets handled with this much intention. This is not a tie-in exhibition — it’s a genuinely curatorial response to a cultural moment, organized by people who have spent years building bridges between Latino artistic traditions and North Texas communities.
Latino Arts Project has been doing exactly that work in Dallas and the region, bringing curated exhibitions, community events, and fine art together to celebrate the depth of Latino identity and heritage. Their events, as community members have described them, feel intentional, inclusive, and deeply rooted in culture. This opening is no exception.
The Venue
The Latino Cultural Center in Dallas was designed by renowned Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta and opened in 2003. The 27,000-square-foot facility is known for its vivid colors and bold geometric architecture, and features an art gallery, sculpture courtyards, and a 300-seat theater. Its mission is to serve as a regional catalyst for the preservation, promotion, and development of Latino and Hispanic arts and culture — a mission it has delivered on for more than 500,000 visitors since opening day.
The center offers year-round programming including visual arts exhibitions, film screenings, music and dance performances, theater productions, and workshops. Access to the facility is free. It sits at 2600 Live Oak Street, within walking distance of the Pearl Street light rail station serving the Blue and Red DART lines.
Event Details
Opening Reception: Tonight, Thursday, April 17, 2026, 6 to 8 p.m. Location: Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak Street, Dallas, TX 75204 Admission: Free
The Goals of Painting (Jazzamoart): April 18 through May 22, 2026 El Mundo es un Juego (Rodrigo de la Sierra): April 18 through May 22, 2026
Latino Cultural Center hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: (214) 671-0045 Website: lcc.dallasculture.org Latino Arts Project: latinoartsproject.com Instagram: @latinoartsproject
